VolunteerNC Awarded More Than $13.2 Million in AmeriCorps Funding to Support Service Programs Across the State

Today VolunteerNC announced that its AmeriCorps NC program received more than $13.2 million in funding from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.

"Whether it's mentoring students, helping communities recover from disaster, or reducing barriers to medical access, AmeriCorps Volunteers are making a difference in North Carolinians' lives," said Governor Josh Stein. "These funds will help 600 more Volunteers meet North Carolina's urgent needs while gaining skills and experience for the future.

AmeriCorps State and National, a federal-state partnership with a central role for Governor- appointed state service commissions like VolunteerNC, develops and implements state-specific national service programs. These grants allow organizations to recruit, train, and supervise AmeriCorps Volunteers to support programming.

With this funding, AmeriCorps NC will leverage the skills and experience of AmeriCorps Volunteers across the state to address pressing local needs. Volunteer activities will include tutoring and mentoring youth, providing arts education in the classroom, supporting high school students with career and educational exploration, improving access to medical care in underserved communities, addressing food insecurity, restoring the environment, and enhancing local government and nonprofit capacity.

People interested in serving as AmeriCorps Volunteers through AmeriCorps NC can visit AmeriCorps NC Programs | nc.gov to learn more about participating programs and the application process.

"Annually, more than 600 AmeriCorps NC Volunteers serve in 89 counties, providing an essential volunteer workforce in health care, education, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, and capacity building in local governments and nonprofits," said Briles Johnson, Executive Director of VolunteerNC. "In addition to their impact on communities, these opportunities provide career pathways for our AmeriCorps NC Volunteers, helping fill the employment gaps in rural, underserved, and urban communities."

The NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (VolunteerNC), promotes and facilitates service and volunteering to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement in North Carolina. A division within the Office of the Governor, VolunteerNC oversees the state AmeriCorps programs (AmeriCorps NC), Disaster Services, the Governor's Page Program, and Volunteer Service. Learn more at VolunteerNC | nc.gov.

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About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation's most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 185,000 AmeriCorps Volunteers in intensive service roles and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to become part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at AmeriCorps.gov/Serve.